Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Big week on Beacon Hill

Monday, April 10, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Big week on Beacon Hill

UNDER THE GOLDEN DOME — The House is expected to unveil its tax-relief and budget proposals this week against the backdrop of a major abortion-access ruling that will dominate the discussion on Beacon Hill today.

Gov. Maura Healey will gather with top Democrats and abortion-rights groups this afternoon to lay out her plans to “ensure supply of mifepristone and protect patients, providers and pharmacists in Massachusetts” after a late-Friday court ruling out of Texas jeopardized access to the abortion pill. An administration aide told Playbook that the governor’s plans — set to be unveiled at a 1 p.m. press conference on the State House steps — will include executive action and “other steps.”

Healey will then huddle with top lawmakers for their first leadership meeting in weeks . Shoring up access to mifepristone — which is one of two drugs used together to cause an abortion, and is the most common method in the country for terminating a pregnancy — will likely be on the agenda.

The House’s spending plans could also make the list. The House intends to unveil its budget proposal on Wednesday, and House Speaker Ron Mariano promised to release his chamber’s take on a tax-relief package “just before” that. House leaders rolled out one piece of their annual spending plan in the Boston Globe this morning: reviving the pandemic-era eviction protections they let lapse at the end of last month.

The next phase of the budget debate kicks off on the heels of new polling that shows where the public stands on key proposals. The UMass Amherst/WCVB poll of 700 residents shows overwhelming support — 79 percent — for making universal free school meals permanent (something Mariano said the House budget would do, while Healey is only asking to extend the program for another year).

But people are split on Healey’s more controversial tax-relief proposals. Fifty percent strongly or somewhat support lowering the short-term capital gains tax rate to 5 percent from 12 percent, while 19 percent oppose it and 31 percent offered no opinion.

And only 48 percent of respondents support raising the estate-tax threshold to $3 million from $1 million, while 25 percent oppose it and 26 percent chose neither option. UMass Amherst polling director Tatishe Nteta expects the upcoming budget discussions will help move the needle for those in that “neither” category. Keep an eye on which way public opinion goes.

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo is heading to the Healey administration.

Arrigo starts as Department of Conservation and Recreation commissioner on April 24. The outgoing mayor, who's close with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, will take over DCR at a time when the administration wants to “think bigger” about the agency’s role.

“A lot of what DCR does really sits at the nexus of climate, public health and equity, and we’ve seen that play out in Revere,” Arrigo told Playbook. “Being able to have some impact there is really exciting.”

Arrigo already said he wouldn’t seek a third term leading Revere. And his resignation on April 21 won’t trigger a special election. But it could change the dynamics of the race to replace him. Arrigo's departure means one of the four candidates vying to succeed him, City Council President Patrick Keefe Jr., will take over the top job on an acting basis.

TODAY — Healey attends a press conference at Worcester Regional Airport at 10 a.m. and joins Driscoll , Sen. Elizabeth Warren , AG Andrea Campbell, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Senate President Karen Spilka for her 1 p.m. mifepristone-access announcement on the State House steps. Healey, Driscoll, Spilka and Mariano meet in the senate president’s office at 2 p.m.

Campbell testifies in support of “elder justice” legislation at 10 a.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the late Mel King at noon at City Hall Plaza. Rep. Richard Neal announces federal funding at 1 p.m. at Westfield Gas & Electric and commemorates the Good Friday Agreement at 2 p.m. at the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) speaks at Tufts University at 5 p.m.

Tips? Scoops? Still processing last night's "Succession" episode? Let's chat: lkashinsky@politico.com .

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

— THE NATIONAL VIEW: “Texas judge halts FDA approval of abortion pill,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein, POLITICO: “A Texas federal judge ruled Friday evening to suspend the FDA’s approval of mifepristone — one of two drugs used together to cause an abortion — virtually banning the sale of the pills across the country. The decision, however, will not take effect for a week, giving higher courts time to consider the appeal the Biden administration filed Friday night and delaying for now the impact on hundreds of thousands of patients who use the medication both for abortions and treating miscarriages. …

Meanwhile, a Washington State federal judge issued a conflicting order Friday night that blocks the FDA from rolling back access to the pills in the dozen blue states that brought the lawsuit. The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, clashes with [Judge Matthew] Kacsmaryk’s in that it orders the FDA to maintain the status quo, raising the likelihood that the issue could go before the Supreme Court.”

— GO DEEPER: “Bringing the abortion pill litigation into focus,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Magazine.

— “‘It’s creating enormous chaos’: Legal experts, political leaders blast Texas court ruling that could affect access to abortion pill,” by John Hilliard, Ivy Scott and Emma Platoff, Boston Globe.

— THE LOCAL ANGLE: “An ‘antiabortion screed:’ Health care providers in Mass. react to Texas decision,” by Felice J. Freyer, Jessica Bartlett and Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: “Alarmed by a court ruling Friday invalidating a popular abortion medication, providers in Massachusetts are preparing contingencies that include stockpiling the drug, mifepristone; switching to solely using a companion medicine that is less effective; and making plans for a possible increase in surgical abortions.”

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Beacon Hill looks to curb 'toxic' youth sports culture,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Legislation filed by a group of Democratic lawmakers would amend the state’s Anti-Bullying Law by adding a section that requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to publish new guidelines for the implementation of a ‘social emotional learning curriculum’ for public school sports teams.”

— “There’s lots of talk about millionaires leaving Massachusetts. But will they?” by Janelle Nanos and Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “When voters passed the millionaires tax last fall, it was hailed by progressives as a win for middle- and lower-class residents. It could raise $1 billion or more a year for schools, roads, and transit by taxing fewer than 1 percent of people in the state. But now, some of that 1 percent are assessing their options. They may not speak openly about it, but among the well-heeled, there’s a simmering sense that the state has become less welcoming.”

— "Gov. Healey's Latino Council has only 1 member representing western Massachusetts," by Elizabeth Román, NEPM.

— “Lawmakers, architects push for multistall, gender-neutral bathroom bill for new construction, renovations statewide,” by Sydney Ko, for the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

— MASK-ACHUSETTS: “A house divided: Health care workers mixed on halt of COVID mask mandate,” by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette.

FROM THE HUB

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune is endorsing Robert Orthman for 10th Suffolk state representative, his campaign said. JP Progressives has also voted to back Orthman in the May 2 primary.

— AS SEEN ON TV: “Cox pledges more visibility as Boston police commissioner in TV interview,” by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: “Seven months into his job as Boston police commissioner, Michael Cox said in a Sunday television interview [on WCVB's "On the Record" that] he is working on becoming more visible as leader of the city’s police department. But Cox, who was sworn in last August, said he wants the focus to remain on the police department itself."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “MBTA falls behind peer transit agencies on hiring bus drivers, restoring service,” by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “For its part, the T has said the shortage mirrors most transit agencies nationwide. But a Globe review of six large US transit agencies found the T’s peers have had more success digging themselves out of the crisis. And they’re all doing something different than the T: They allow new drivers to start as full-time employees, giving them an opportunity to make higher wages immediately.”

— NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Phillip Eng takes over as general manager of the MBTA today, but he’s already gotten a glimpse of the harsh media spotlight he’ll face as the new head of the beleaguered transit system. The Boston Herald published an article on Friday linking Eng to overtime problems at the Long Island Rail Road that predated his tenure. By Sunday, Eng’s former boss was defending his record in the paper’s pages.

— “Congressional Black Caucus urges Buttigieg to address racial inequality in traffic enforcement,” by Lauren Sforza, The Hill: “The group, spearheaded by Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), called on the Department of Transportation to condemn the ‘status quo of traffic enforcement’ and to create reforms to reduce racial inequality in traffic stops.”

DAY IN COURT

— “Boston ‘Straight Pride Parade’ organizer facing felony charge in Jan 6 Capitol riot,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “A lead organizer of Boston’s ‘Straight Pride Parade’ is now facing a felony charge for his alleged participation in the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutors announced. Mark Sahady, 48, of Malden ... had previously been facing lesser charges.”

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FROM THE 413

— “City Council President Jesse Lederman to present resolution promoting paid family medical leave,” by Jonah Snowden, MassLive: “Since 2018, a state law has provided paid family leave to almost all private sector workers and to state employees. But the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act does not cover municipal workers. The Springfield City Council will discuss a resolution Monday that seeks to change that.”

— “Heir’s challenge to cut of potato dynasty dismissed: In family lawsuits, judge rules in favor of Szawlowski companies,” by James Pentland, Daily Hampshire Gazette.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Select Board race in Somerset has offshore wind ramifications,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “A battle for a seat on the Somerset Select Board is shaping up as a referendum on the board’s oversight of Brayton Point, which many in town hope will become the epicenter of the state’s emerging offshore wind industry.”

— “Facing ongoing crises, Bay State College gets new leadership,” by Max Larkin, WBUR: “Jeff Mason, a 27-year administrator at Bay State College and its interim president since March 2022, resigned from his post [last] week, per an email sent to students and staff that was obtained by WBUR."

— “First Citizens, the new SVB, already in talks with local affordable housing leaders,” by Meera Raman, Boston Business Journal: “Less than two weeks after acquiring Silicon Valley Bank, North Carolina-based First Citizens has already reached out to key Boston leaders to discuss the failed bank's commitments to financing affordable housing developments in the Boston area.”

MEDIA MATTERS

— “Why public TV pioneer Channel 57 lost its place within a revamped New England Public Media,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

REWIND — I joined State House News Service’s Craig Sandler and WBZ’s Jon Keller on “Keller @ Large” to talk all things Beacon Hill.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to past Boston mayor, former Labor secretary and NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh, Max Clermont and Elaina Nigro.

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